To Cultivate: 1: prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening
2: into acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill)
The term “cultivate” has become a very familiar adjective that is commonly used during my recent endeavors with yoga. It is used to describe the manner in which, my practice or capability is being developed. What is great about it, is way more than the strength gained, balance or ability but the simplicity that there is no rules or regulations. It is my practice in which I’m cultivating. No judgements, no pressure added other than the way in which I judge myself or fear the judgements from others. I am cultivating my practice each time I step on the mat and plant my feet. It takes time to develop, practice, focus, sacrifice, etc. I guess what I’m trying to say is, it doesn’t just happen!
So today as I’m eating leftover snow crabs, I began reflecting on Psalms 91. Follow me here, for a bit longer and I will reveal the comparison. It is a very familiar verse, in almost any faith, commonly spoken during times of difficulty. “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day” . While there is so much value in the whole chapter, and I would never want to dismiss it in its entirety, it’s how David began the Psalm that struck me the most. It begins, “Whoever dwells in the shadow of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Thereafter are listed the many benefits of dwelling or cultivating your relationship with God, if you will.
In order to find this place of rest, one would have to spend time dwelling or living in his presence. Because we live here on Earth, being bound by responsibilities, it isn’t necessarily possible to live in his presence, but spend time with him. When I began to walk with the lord during the young adult days of my life, practicing his presence wasn’t something natural nor easily attained. It took practice, experiences, faithfulness, etc. I wasn’t really sure how to access his presence, so I surrounded myself with others who knew. It was during this time, that I began cultivating my faith and relationship with God. As time went on, I began to know him, understanding his characteristics, his attributes, his heart, his ways, wisdom and the list goes on and on. I could stay here for hours writing about how good he is and how in spite of it all, many trials, much anguish I learned to lean on him. Over time, I have learned that his presence is always available and not limited to a building with four walls, nor a specific prayer that I recite. His presence is real in my everyday life.
Similar to preparing soil, he had to break up the ground in my heart that was heavy laden with lies of rejection, bitterness, hurt, sorrow, grief, nothing good really! Over time he softened my heart and bit by bit, it became like a human heart. Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. And that is exactly what transpired! God himself, the maker of heaven and earth, gave me a heart transplant. Over time, we developed trust, and he delicately dealt with every issue of my heart. He took the broken pieces and restored them back together with his love and presence. I could sit here and rehash every last detail of my life and tell you how painful it has been, but I am certain that you have a story of your own. I want to encourage you today to begin to practice or cultivate your relationship with God. He wants to know you intimately. There isn’t any judgement, he just requires that you participate and reveal yourself to him. Not the places that just neat and pretty, but those dark areas that you want to keep covered. What he has done for me, he will do the same for you. Will you trust him today? Will you develop your practice, that you may find Rest in his arms? I look around me and I see troubled waters, but I also see the God who can provide peace in any storm or situation. You don’t have to be in a building, meet with him right where you are. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and invite him to walk beside you today. It will be the greatest decision of your life.
IN DEEP WATERS 